Comprehensive Guide to Air Compressor Types - Find the Perfect Fit for Your Needs
It is common to categorize compressors by their operating principle and structure, volumetric compressors and power compressors:
Positive Displacement Compressors
A compressor that increases gas pressure by changing the size of the working chamber volume.
1> Reciprocating compressor is a compressor that compresses gas by reciprocating motion in the cylinder or by repeated deformation of the diaphragm in the cylinder in order to increase the gas pressure.
(1) Shaft-driven compressors: are reciprocating compressors with a rotary motion of the crankshaft.
Piston compressor: is a shaft-driven compressor that compresses gas by the reciprocating motion of a piston in a cylinder.
Diaphragm compressors: are shaft-driven compressors that mechanically or hydraulically drive diaphragm deformation to complete the compression cycle.
(2) Free piston compressor: through the moving piston direct compression of the medium, the use of air cushion effect or synchronization mechanism, etc. to complete the piston return and synchronization of the crankshaftless reciprocating compressor.
(3) Linear compressors: are reciprocating compressors in which a linear motor directly drives a piston to compress gas.
2> rotary compressor through one or several rotors in the cylinder to do rotary movement, so that the working volume to produce periodic changes, so as to realize the gas compression compressor.
Scroll compressor: is a rotary compressor that consists of a moving scroll disk and a static scroll disk, and is characterized by the flat movement of the moving scroll disk engaging with the static scroll disk to achieve gas compression.
Liquid ring compressor: through the working wheel rotation, under the action of centrifugal force to throw out the liquid, the formation of a liquid ring close to the inner wall of the cylinder, in the two neighboring blades and the liquid ring between the formation of a periodic expansion and contraction of the fan space, so as to complete the gas compression of the rotary compressor.
Slide compressor: in the eccentric configuration of the rotor is equipped with radial reciprocating movement of the slide, the slide is close to the cylinder wall and with the rotor rotation and constitutes a periodic change in the volume of the base element to achieve the gas compression of the rotary compressor.
Triangular rotor compressor: relies on a triangular rotating piston moving in an approximately elliptical cylinder, thus realizing a compressor for gas compression.
Twin-screw compressor: through the two spiral rotor according to a certain transmission ratio of mutual engagement rotary and pressure to send the gas compressor.
Single screw rotor: in which the single-screw rotor presses and delivers gas through the meshing motion of the worm and star wheel.
Power compressor
A compressor that raises gas pressure by increasing the speed of gas movement and converting its kinetic energy into pressure energy.
Turbine Compressor: A powered compressor having rotary blades, disks or impellers.
Axial Compressors: A turbo compressor in which the gas flows in the axial direction over a cylindrical surface in close proximity to the compressor stage.
Centrifugal Compressors: A turbo compressor in which the gas flows in a radial direction within the impeller impeller.
Mixed Flow Compressors: A turbo compressor in which the gas flows in a direction between the axial and radial directions.
Usage Classification
| Air compressor | Compressors for air |
| Process compressors | Compressors for gases other than air |
| Refrigeration compressors | Compressors for refrigeration systems where the compression medium is refrigerant. |
| Gas delivery compressors | Gas pressure feeding equipment for gas transportation and compression |
Exhaust Pressure Classification
| Low pressure compressor | 0.2~1MPa |
| Medium pressure compressor | 1~10MPa |
| High pressure compressor | 10~100MPa |
| Ultra High Pressure Compressor | >100MPa |
Volumetric flow classification
| Micro-compressors | <1m³/min |
| Small Compressor | 1~10m³/min |
| Medium-sized Compressors | 10~100m³/min |
| Large Compressors | >100m³/min |
Classification of Compression Stages
Single-stage compressors: Compressors with only one gas compression process, i.e. the gas is compressed only once through the working chamber or impeller to reach the rated discharge pressure.
Two-stage compressor: Compressors with a two-stage gas compression process, i.e. the gas is compressed twice sequentially through the working chamber or impeller to reach the rated discharge pressure, usually requiring interstage cooling design between the two stages of compression.
Multi-stage compressors: Compressors with multiple gas compression processes, i.e. where the gas is compressed sequentially through the working chamber or impeller several times to reach the rated discharge pressure, are usually designed with cooling devices between stages.
Classification of cooling methods
According to the compressor cooling method is divided into air-cooled compressors, water-cooled compressors and so on.
Classification of lubrication methods
Oil lubricated compressor, Micro Oil Lubricated Compressors, Oil-free compressors
Structural Classification
Mobile and stationary compressors
